Gov. Ben P. Evardone Signs EO Enforcing Pre-emptive Measures for the Prevention of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) Outbreak in Eastern Samar

Gov. Evardone met with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), Expanded Health Board, and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (LDRRMOs) at the Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO) Conference Hall, together with Local Chief Executives (LCEs) in the province to plan the measures to be taken by the provincial government against the threat of nCoV in Eastern Samar.

The EO includes the creation of a Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging and Re-Emerging disease to ensure that the pre-emptive and precautionary measures in the province are strictly monitored. The Task Force will be headed by the Governor and shall be composed of the members of the Provincial Health Board, Local Chief Executives of Local Government Units, Chiefs of Hospitals, representatives of private hospitals, City/Municipal Health Officers, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, DILG, PDRRMC, Philippine Information Agency, Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The Task Force will conduct monthly meetings or as the need arises.

Other salient points included in the EO are pre-emptive measures to be done by government and private offices which include strengthening of influenza-like illnesses surveillance and monitoring, strict implementation of the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine to all with history of travel to countries with confirmed cases of nCoV, enforcement of a temporary travel ban as approved by the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the management of emerging infectious diseases. Employees in government and private offices are also encouraged to regularly wash their hands, avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illnesses, thoroughly cook meat products, and maintain a clean working environment.

City/Municipal Health Offices are also directed to mobilize the barangay health emergency response teams, which shall be headed by the barangay captains, to monitor residents/foreigners/visitors/ arriving from affected countries and report their arrival to the nearest health authority.

In the meeting with LCEs, Health Board, PDRRMC, and LDRRMOs, Gov. Evardone encouraged everyone to commit to their roles in the local government to prevent the nCoV outbreak in the province. He reminded everyone to remain calm and follow the protocols laid out by the Department of Health and the Provincial Health Office.